Comments on: Our Mothers Answered the Call (Utah history)http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/
Where our past is never very long agoSun, 02 Aug 2015 21:37:15 +0000hourly1By: Naismithhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16988
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:30:10 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16988My mother was an Army nurse in WWII (she and dad were married in uniform)

Although they were not LDS, there is a Utah connection. Mom was stationed at the huge military hospital in Brigham City for more than a year. Some weekends, Dad took the train down from where he was stationed in Washington state, and they did lots of their courting on the streets of SLC.

I visited the site of the hospital after it was an Indian school, before it was turned into condos. I was sure where the O-club must have been. Is anyone aware of a history of that hospital complex? It must have had a huge impact on the local economy and our family would love to learn more.

Lest we get too carried away with my mom’s patriotism, in her later years she admitted on videotape that the reason she signed up was that it was hard to find cigarettes, booze or men in civilian life during that era–all in ready supply at the officer’s club.

]]>By: Naismithhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16987
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:57:44 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16987My mother was an Army nurse in WWII (she and dad were married in uniform) and I served in the WAC during Vietnam. According to recent Census data, there are 1.8 million living female veterans.

One of the sad things was that the WASPs were only considered an auxillary and did not have full military benefits until like the 1970s when Congress finally voted to retroactively grant them benefits. So right after the war they couldn’t attend college on the GI Bill, nor get a VA loan to buy a house, and when more than 40 of them were killed, they did not get a military funeral or even a GI insurance payment. (Of course they were disbanded right after WWII and women were not allowed to fly military planes again for several decades.)

]]>By: Maurinehttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16986
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:51:57 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16986Hunter, I thought the same thing. Apparently the male cadets were not dispensable as Alberta Nicholson.
Mark B., I recall seeing something on the History Channel about the women aviators ferrying aircraft overseas. It was several months ago, I think.
]]>By: Ardis E. Parshallhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16985
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:35 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16985I’ll be interested in hearing anything more about the wartime work of these women, Mark.
]]>By: Mark B.http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16983
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:39:45 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16983Ardis, a wonderful tribute to courageous women! Thank you.

One question: you mentioned that women ferried aircraft around the country. I have a foggy recollection (most of mine lately are that way) that women aviators also ferried aircraft overseas, closer to combat zones. I’ll have to check that another day–unless someone beats me to it.

]]>By: Hunterhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16971
Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:42:44 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16971Oh wowza – “One of her more hazardous assignments was taking repaired aircraft for test flights to be sure they were safe for use by male cadets.” Bravery, indeed. Thanks for this.
]]>By: Ardis E. Parshallhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16970
Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:03:57 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16970Now there’s a brave woman for you, like all the other first responders who run toward, not away from, signs of danger.
]]>By: S.Fauxhttp://www.keepapitchinin.org/2009/11/11/our-mothers-answered-the-call-utah-history/comment-page-1/#comment-16968
Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:49 +0000http://www.keepapitchinin.org/?p=2500#comment-16968Thanks for this tribute to the female members of our military. (Just my opinion, but we men are not much without the foundational supports of women). And, I give my thanks to Kimberly Munley, who evidently will be interviewed by Oprah today on TV.
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